COVID-19 increase could force Pueblo County back to Stay at Home order
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- COVOID-19 numbers in Pueblo County have continued to rise to the cusp of potentially forcing the county into another stay-at-home order.
Last week, elected officials in Pueblo’s county and city governments announced that the community needs to lower the COVID-19 case rate or risk more serious restrictions. They originally said the community has until Friday, but on Tuesday, Pueblo County Health Director Randy Evetts said the deadline is not set in stone.
Pueblo County is currently under a Level 2 Safer at Home Order, however, the case rate is currently at 337 cases per 100,000 residents. If Pueblo County doesn’t lower the case rate below 175 cases per 100,000 residents, the county would be moved to a Level 3 Safer at Home Order.
Level 3 would mean occupancy would be lowered to 25%, gyms and bars would close, and variances would be removed.
Pueblo County is already on the cusp of even skipping level 3 and going straight to a stay at home order if the number rises above 350 cases per 100,000 residents. A stay at home order would shut down all businesses and offices, and restaurants would be take-out only.
However, in order to be moved to a more lenient or restrictive order, the county's numbers need to be above that level for at least two weeks.
Pueblo County health officials are currently working on a mitigation plan to be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The mitigation plan’s sole purpose is to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, it is unclear when that plan would be finished.
